Page:Betty Gordon in the Land of Oil.djvu/202

192 are signing? I'd like to know the purchase price. I'm representing Bob's interest."

"Oh, Bob!" Miss Hope and Miss Charity both turned from the paper toward the speaker. "We think the money will put Bob through school—a whole thousand dollars, Mr. Gordon, and the taxes paid. We can't run the farm any longer. We can't afford to hire help."

"No farm is sold without a little more trouble than this," announced Mr. Gordon pleasantly. "You don't mind if I ask you a few questions?"

"We're in a hurry," broke in Fluss. "Sign this, ladies, and my partner and I will pay you the cash and get on to the next town. You can answer this gentleman's questions after we're gone."

"I suppose there is a mortgage?" asked Mr. Gordon, Ignoring Fluss altogether.

"Five hundred dollars," answered Miss Hope. "We had to give a mortgage to get along after Father died."

"So they've offered you fifteen hundred dollars for an oil farm," said Mr. Gordon contemptuously. "Well, don't take it."

"Bob said there was oil herel" cried Miss Charity.

"That's a lie!" snarled Blosser furiously. "You're out of the oil section by a good many miles. Are you going to turn down a cash offer for this forsaken dump, simply because a stranger